Menlo Park, CA 94025-3272

Monday, May 21, 2012

In these days between the feast of the Ascension and Pentecost we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The preparation consists in a longing - a yearning - for a new influx of His grace and a new awareness of His presence in our lives - in our very souls.
No matter who we are or how we feel or what we are engaged in, we know our neediness, our inadequacy. Just by acknowledging this need and deepening our desire, we stretch our capacity for God.
Each time He comes to us He brings a new influx of His gifts and graces: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, Fear of the Lord. Let us pray to Him in the words of holy Church:

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Sunday, May 13, 2012 was the big day for Sister Mary Isabel of the Angels. At a very special Mass on that day, Sister pronounced her vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, in the presence of Fr. Mark Padrez, celebrant, many of the Dominican Brothers, her monastic community, and many friends and family.

In his homily, Fr. Mark noted how very fitting were the Scripture readings on the Sixth Sunday in Easter time for the occasion of a profession. The subject of the readings was love and friendship. Father highlighted the fact that the religious life is an intense friendship with God. He mentioned many of the qualities of friendship and the fact that a friend is always with us whether in our joys or sorrows, our confusion and pain or our successes and delights, and emphasized the need to spend quality time with our Divine Friend, and when we fail to do this, we deprive ourselves of grace filled moments.

As she prostrated herself before the altar, Sr. Mary Isabel was overflowing with joy to be able to dedicate herself totally to our loving God. Then she pronounced her vows for three years in the hands of her religious superior. We ask God to strengthen and confirm her in this work and bring her to the day when she will make Solemn Profession 'until death'.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Next Sunday, May 13, 2012 will be the ceremony of First Profession for our Sister Mary Isabel of the Angels. A Profession Ceremony is always a day of happy celebration in a community and a Dominican monastery is no exception. This is the time when a novice will pronounce her vows of Religion according to the Rule of St. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers. The profession takes place in the context of the Mass, which this time will be celebrated by the Provincial of the Western Dominican Province, Fr. Mark Padrez, OP. During the ceremony Sister Mary Isabel's white veil will be exchanged for the black veil of the professed. At this first profession, a novice makes her vows for three years. Later they will be renewed, and then finally she will make profession of Solemn Vows until death. During her novitiate, Sister has been studying the courses which help her to know the history and practice of the Dominican Contemplative Life. For the next few years she will continue this pursuit of knowledge which will give her a deeper understanding of religious life and especially of the science of prayer and a deep relationship with God. After the ceremony, Sister Mary Isabel will no longer be called a novice; she will then be recognized as a member of the Dominican Order. And with this comes the privilege of using the initials O.P. (Order of Preachers) after her name.

We welcome all to join us for the Mass and reception on this happy occasion.

About Me

The friars, sisters, and laity of the Order are to preach the name of our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world; the nuns are to seek, ponder, and call upon him in solitude so that the word proceeding from the mouth of God may not return to him empty but may accomplish those things for which it was sent.
-Fundamental Constitution of the Nuns.-